The Maryland Court of Appeals has put on hold the trials of the officers charged in connection to the death of Freddie Gray, pending arguments and a decision on whether Officer William Porter can be compelled to testify under immunity.

Porter went to trial in December, but a hung jury caused a mistrial. Prosecutors want to use his testimony against the other officers. Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams ruled Porter must testify in the trials of Officer Caesar Goodson and Sgt. Alicia White, but not in the trials of Officer Edward Nero, Officer Garrett Miller or Lt. Brian Rice.

Porter's lawyers argue that testifying in any of the trials while he awaits a retrial and even federal charges violates his Fifth Amendment rights.

The trial of Officer Edward Nero, scheduled to start Monday, is now on hold.

Baltimore attorney A. Dwight Pettit is not associated with the cases, but has observed much of the proceedings. He agrees with the Court of Appeals taking up this issue.

"It's the absolute correct ruling. We're dealing with a major constitutional issue in relationship to self-incrimination," Pettit said. "In terms of Goodson and White, you have to remember, Porter is the one that said 'I told them that he needed medical attention, I told them that he needed to go to the hospital ...'

"You have certain potential incrimination in terms of perjury. We don't know where the federal investigation is and so you have to balance his constitutional rights with the necessity of having the officer testify, because the state has indicated that that's a material and their primary fundamental witness."

Here's the new timeline: The defense briefs are due on Feb. 24. The state's brief will be filed by Feb. 29. The defense has until March 2 to respond. Arguments will be heard March 3.

Pettit said the next step in the process could be the U.S. Supreme Court.

"It's an issue of such importance that it could go directly to the Supreme Court," Pettit said.